Part 54

<i>Glanvill.</i>

<h1>Absorb</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*sorb"</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Absorbed</er> <tt>(#)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Absorbing</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[L. <ets>absorbere</ets>; <ets>ab + sorbere</ets> to suck in, akin to Gr. <?/: cf. F. <ets>absorber</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To swallow up; to engulf; to overwhelm; to cause to disappear as if by swallowing up; to use up; to include.</def> "Dark oblivion soon <i>absorbs</i> them all."

<i>Cowper.</i>

<blockquote>The large cities <b>absorb</b> the wealth and fashion. <i>W. Irving.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To suck up; to drink in; to imbibe; as a sponge or as the lacteals of the body.</def>

<i>Bacon.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>To engross or engage wholly; to occupy fully; <as>as, <ex>absorbed</ex> in study or the pursuit of wealth</as>.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>To take up by cohesive, chemical, or any molecular action, as when charcoal <i>absorbs</i> gases. So heat, light, and electricity are <i>absorbed</i> or taken up in the substances into which they pass.</def>

<i>Nichol.</i>

<i>p. 8</i>

<syn>Syn. -- To <er>Absorb</er>, <er>Engross</er>, <er>Swallow up</er>, <er>Engulf</er>.</syn> <usage> These words agree in one general idea, that of <i>completely taking up</i>. They are chiefly used in a figurative sense and may be distinguished by a reference to their etymology. We speak of a person as <i>absorbed</i> (lit., drawn in, swallowed up) in study or some other employment of the highest interest. We speak of a person as <i>ebgrossed</i> (lit., seized upon in the <i>gross</i>, or wholly) by something which occupies his whole time and thoughts, as the acquisition of wealth, or the attainment of honor. We speak of a person (under a stronger image) as <i>swallowed up</i> and lost in that which completely occupies his thoughts and feelings, as in grief at the death of a friend, or in the multiplied cares of life. We speak of a person as <i>engulfed</i> in that which (like a gulf) takes in all his hopes and interests; as, <i>engulfed</i> in misery, ruin, etc.</usage>

<blockquote>That grave question which had begun to <b>absorb</b> the Christian mind -- the marriage of the clergy. <i>Milman.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Too long hath love <b>engrossed</b> Britannia's stage, And sunk to softness all our tragic rage. <i>Tickell.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Should not the sad occasion <b>swallow up</b> My other cares? <i>Addison.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>And in destruction's river <b>Engulf</b> and swallow those. <i>Sir P. Sidney.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Absorbability</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*sorb`a*bil"i*ty</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The state or quality of being absorbable.</def>

<i> Graham (Chemistry).</i>

<h1>Absorbable</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*sorb"a*ble</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>absorbable</ets>.]</ety> <def>Capable of being absorbed or swallowed up.</def>

<i>Kerr.</i>

<h1>Absorbedly</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*sorb"ed*ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In a manner as if wholly engrossed or engaged.</def>

<h1>Absorbency</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*sorb"en*cy</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Absorptiveness.</def>

<h1>Absorbent</h1> <Xpage=7>

<hw>Ab*sorb"ent</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>absorbens</ets>, p. pr. of <ets>absorbere</ets>.]</ety> <def>Absorbing; swallowing; absorptive.</def>